Luise, great timing on this topic. I have the same topic on the other board! I have been looking at saddles over the past month and have settled on a Frank Baines Reflex. I do not like a large thigh block and this one is moveable/removeable. It velcros on, which means my saddle will probably always be dirty there! It has a narrow twist, which is what I need and why most other saddles do not feel comfortable to me. It also fits my horse very well. Better than anything else I’ve tried. Also, for you, it comes in several types of leather. Including a grippier buffalo leather! I just ordered mine last night. Also, they come in 7 different tree widths. N, M, MW, W, XW, XXW, XXXW.
Well, I’ve tried both the Omni and the Elegance. The Omni is a gorgeous saddle. The thigh block is larger than the Elegance. I liked it, but found the waist a little bit wide. So then I tried the Elegance. I think it may work. It is narrow at the waist and fits us both well (me and the horse). I am not used to riding in a dressage saddle, so I do need to work on riding with a long leg. I am going to ride in it over the next few days and then decide. I do have to say that the saddles are both gorgeous, and I am very impressed with the quality and workmanship. More like the quality of a $5000 saddle! Wonderful leather.
Update
Well, rode in the Elegance for the 2nd time today. I have never had such a good flat ride on my horse. I have been working on getting him round and on the bit at the canter for the past year. It is a lot of work, especially since he is part draft–I think it is tough for him to work on carrying himself properly. Well today, while riding in the Elegance, he was gorgeous at the trot. After warming up he starting seeking contact with the bit, and I could actually feel his back round up underneath my seat! He was actually carrying himself! And we had some wonderful canters as well! I am beginning to think it is all because of this saddle. I am going to ride in it with my trainer this weekend and see what she thinks.
The canter can be HUGELY affected by saddle fit. Even saddles that ‘appear’ to fit in all normal regards can really block the canter if they are not perfect for that horse.
The canter is where I saw the biggest improvement with my guy when I finally got things right.
Where did y’all get your Frank Baines Saddles? dealer/fitter???
Just a little FYI on the Baines…I’ve owned an Elegance before myself.
My friend bought a Capriole about 5 or 6 years ago. She recently took it into a saddle fitter in the area for a reflocking…he told her that the tree was compromised (she’s never had an accident and taken very good care of it) and he would advise her not to put it back on her horse.
Of course without a second opinion, who knows for sure…I’ve had such bad luck with fitters, I don’t necessarily believe everything that comes out of their mouths…but just something to ask about.
I’m actually looking for a jumping saddle (and ASAP a dressage saddle) for my young horse…love my dealer/fitter, but she’s taking a personal leave from the saddle fitting - saddle selling business for a while. Am really interested in the Frank Baines saddles, but need some personal references for fitters and sellers! Thanks for the reply - always need another perspective and heads up! 
MM Tack Shop in Raleigh
Trumbull Mtn
I’ll bet if you go to Frank Baines’ website, he’d have all the dealers listed.
On some saddles the thigh block can be removed entirely. That is what we used to do with the old Stubben jumping saddles. Just get a “seam-ripper” (small sewing thing) and nip the stitching and pull it out and get rid of the block altogether. That may be the case with some of the saddles you are looking at.
Thigh blocks can interfer with some good exercises and you really shouldn’t need them.
Oh, I got them on trial from Trumbull Mountain. They are wonderful to work with. Well, I think the saddle may be going back though. I dropped my stirrups today and at the walk and standing still, well, my leg was okay. Sitting trot without stirrups, leg okay. But with my stirrups I noticed for some reason I contract my leg, which shortens it and then my stirrup iron moves around. I had a knowledgeable friend watch me ride, and she thinks the thigh block is maybe a bit too big at the top near the pommel, and is pushing my leg outward. If my legs hang loosely, my toe is still turned out a bit. It takes some physical effort to make my toe straight. So I think maybe I need something even closer contact, with maybe just a skinny thigh block enough to keep my leg back, but not so much to push my leg away.
Thigh block or knee roll ?
Edit: When your feet are out of the stirrups and they are just hanging straight down, you should be able to just lift your toe and slip it into the strirrup without any trouble IF you and your saddle are fitting correctly. In other words, there shouldn’t really be any difference.
Frank Baines will make any size thigh block you want, and can also put them on velcro so you can move them around. They offer a lot of custom features at no extra charge. They can be a little slow for custom orders, but it depends on the dealer as well. Beautiful saddles and very horse friendly. If you are trying saddles, you may also want to consider an Albion, I’ve been impressed with a lot of the new features they offer. They will do different twists and seat widths, high profile or low profile, a longer or shorter flap, and their new Genesis tree is fully adjustable if your horse changes shape or you get a new horse. I never liked Albions in the past because they were too wide for me, but they offer a narrow seat/narrow twist option that is perfect for petite riders. The Genesis tree also offers a lot of freedom in the shoulder area, and the Albions were literally the only saddle I tried where my mare could canter freely. Of course now she’s off for a couple of months, but I think I will probably order one when she is in full work.
